It is surreal that I am finally on a foreign mission field for the first time. This past June, I was still waking up to another day of not living out the best that God has for me. It took a long time to discern His voice, muffled by my own and Satan’s.

Now, I wake up each day eager to run to the local morning market and tell everybody about Jesus.

Well, not exactly.

God wants me here in Southern Thailand. He clearly opened the way and provided for me to come. But how many of us are receiving all that He desires to give? And should I straightaway approach every person on the street, and knock on a few hundred doors a day?
First of all, I can’t do that because I would need to speak Thai. A few hours a day are allocated towards language learning, and more opportunities to build relationships will present themselves as proficiency increases.

If I can speak to the Thai people, and approach them—still, is something missing?

How about time spent with God in prayer and devotion? Am I abiding in His presence? Am I having victory over sin? Do I have the Holy Spirit?

When John “Praying” Hyde began mission work in India, he put time with God before learning Punjabi. I am inspired to do the same and believe it will bring success.

How much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
“Christ represents the petitioner as asking that he may give again. He must obtain the bread, else he cannot supply the necessities of a weary, belated wayfarer. . . . In like manner, the disciples were to seek blessings from God. In the feeding of the multitude and in the sermon on the bread from heaven, Christ had opened to them their work as His representatives. They were to give the bread of life to the people. He who had appointed their work, saw how often their faith would be tried. Often they would be thrown into unexpected positions, and would realize their human insufficiency. Souls that were hungering for the bread of life would come to them, and they would feel themselves to be destitute and helpless. They must receive spiritual food, or they would have nothing to impart. . . . Christ directs them to the source of supply” (Christ’s Object Lessons 140).

I am eager to give the bread of life to others, but am I prepared to go out? Do I have anything to impart? Not if Christ is not in me. And I dare not work tirelessly in the field by my own wisdom and strength.

Unlike the selfish neighbor, God delights to give to us if we but ask. “He longs to grant the requests of those who come unto Him in faith. He gives to us that we may minister to others and thus become like Himself” (Christ’s Object Lessons 141.1).

I am encouraged by the fact that because I want to receive from God in order to give, He will most assuredly provide.

In mid-August, I arrived to work with the Wilsons, career missionaries in Southern Thailand, but the real work is Christ being completed in me. Daily surrender is necessary. The good news is that God will do that work in me if I let Him. Christ’s work in Southern Thailand or anywhere else will flourish as a result.

I humbly request your prayer. Reach out if you wish to correspond. I would love that.

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